One side is unbeaten in 18 games, the other is hanging its season on Europe. That’s the setup as Fenerbahce welcome Rangers to a loud, unforgiving Kadikoy for the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie. José Mourinho’s team needed the play-offs to get here but arrive in rhythm and in a title race at home. Barry Ferguson’s Rangers skipped the play-offs by finishing eighth in the new league phase and see this competition as their clearest path to a trophy.
The stage is the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, a 50,000-plus cauldron known for nights that rattle visiting sides. Rangers know the territory—this is a club that went to the Europa League final in 2022, losing on penalties to Eintracht Frankfurt. Fenerbahce have the European pedigree of Mourinho on the touchline, a coach who understands two-legged ties as well as anyone.
How to watch, live stream and kick-off time
The first leg is set for Thursday, 6 March 2025. Kick-off is 5:45 PM GMT, which is 8:45 PM local time in Istanbul. UK viewers get an early build-up and full coverage.
- United Kingdom: TNT Sports 2 from 5:00 PM GMT. Subscribers can stream via Discovery+. TNT Sports is available through providers including Sky, Virgin Media and BT.
- Turkey: TRT1 will broadcast the match live. Local kick-off is 8:45 PM (TRT).
Match venue: Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium, Istanbul. Expect a packed house and a steep noise level. It’s a two-leg tie with the return in Glasgow next week. Away goals no longer apply in UEFA competitions—if the aggregate score is level after the second leg, it goes to extra time and then penalties.
This is a prime-time slot for viewers across Europe, and it lands at a critical point in both clubs’ seasons. Rangers are 16 points off Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, which puts even more weight on this tie. Fenerbahce are locked in a two-horse race with Galatasaray domestically, but they haven’t let the schedule blunt their form.
Form guide, stakes and what to expect
Fenerbahce arrive unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions. They closed the league phase in 24th, which pushed them into the play-offs, then handled Anderlecht 5-2 on aggregate. The box score says momentum; the tape shows control and maturity. Mourinho’s fingerprint is clear: a compact out-of-possession shape, quick surges in transition, and set plays rehearsed to the millimetre.
Rangers’ route has been steadier than flashy. Finishing eighth in the new league phase earned automatic progression to the last-16, a significant advantage in terms of rest and preparation. And while domestic results have slipped, their European habits—disciplined lines, smart game management, patience in hostile arenas—tend to travel well. That 2022 run wasn’t an accident. When they get their distances right and keep the ball moving to the flanks, they can quiet a crowd and nick an away leg.
Tactically, watch the wide areas. Fenerbahce push their full-backs and wingers high, especially at home. They try to step on your throat early with pressure and volume, then switch the point of attack to pull you apart. Rangers will aim to resist that first wave and turn it into space behind—classic away-leg football. Fast counters into the channels and set pieces will be their best routes. Discipline matters in Kadikoy; cheap fouls feed the stadium and the scoreboard.
Mourinho in Europe is always a subplot. He’s won major continental finals with three different clubs and has a knack for management over 180 minutes. Expect game states to drive his choices: if Fenerbahce get in front, they’ll compress the pitch and invite mistakes; if they chase, the front line will rotate and run at the back post. Ferguson’s job is to keep Rangers in the tie for Glasgow—limit chaos, protect the box, and carry a threat on dead balls.
The midfield battle will decide the rhythm. If Fenerbahce pin Rangers in and win second balls, Istanbul becomes a long night. If Rangers can take the sting out of the game with tidy passing spells and accurate diagonals to the wings, it resets both the tempo and the crowd. One clean break, one sharp delivery, and you can change the tone of a two-leg tie in a heartbeat.
Set pieces could be the margin. Mourinho’s teams drill restarts obsessively. Rangers, historically strong in the air, won’t mind a stop-start feel if it gives them a platform to threaten. Keep an eye on delivery quality and how each side stacks their blockers and runners. The first contact often tells you who’s tuned in.
There’s also the human part. The Şükrü Saracoğlu can feel claustrophobic for visiting defenders, especially in the first 20 minutes. Rangers need an adult start: no cheap bookings, no turnovers in Zone 14, and no leaning into the noise. The crowd feeds off near-misses as much as goals. Stay calm, and you can make that noise anxious instead of aggressive.
From a competition standpoint, this is where the Europa League sharpens. The league phase rewarded consistency across eight fixtures; the knockouts punish single mistakes. With away goals gone, the incentive is different: managers aren’t guarding a mathematical tiebreaker, they’re managing energy and risk. Expect a bit more bravery from the away side than in the old rules, and a stronger push from the home side to create a gap before the return leg.
Personnel and rotation will be a factor with domestic schedules tight. Five substitutions are allowed in UEFA competitions, which gives both managers latitude to change the dynamic. If this becomes a physical game, the bench could swing it—fresh legs against tired minds in the final 20 minutes often settles first legs.
VAR is in operation at this stage. That usually means defenders need to keep hands down in the box and forwards must hold runs. Margins are thin; a delayed flag or a second look can flip a night on its head. Composure after interruptions matters.
For the narrative watchers: Rangers carry the memory of that 2022 heartbreak and the clarity of what this campaign could still become. Fenerbahce carry the weight of expectation, the sound of 50,000, and a manager who has built a career on bending knockout football to his will. Put simply, this is why the Europa League works—it brings together different rhythms, different pressures, same ruthless stakes.
However you slice it, the first leg’s job is to set the terms for Glasgow. A draw with an away goal used to be gold; now, any result within touching distance is good business. Fenerbahce will chase a cushion. Rangers will chase control. And the rest of us will chase the one thing we came for: a proper European night. For those asking how to watch, it’s all there—TNT Sports 2 in the UK, TRT1 in Turkey, and a 5:45 PM GMT kick-off for Fenerbahce vs Rangers.
Arlen Fitzpatrick
My name is Arlen Fitzpatrick, and I am a sports enthusiast with a passion for soccer. I have spent years studying the intricacies of the game, both as a player and a coach. My expertise in sports has allowed me to analyze matches and predict outcomes with great accuracy. As a writer, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and love for soccer with others, providing insights and engaging stories about the beautiful game. My ultimate goal is to inspire and educate soccer fans, helping them to deepen their understanding and appreciation for the sport.
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